Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown spearheaded a well-rounded effort, each contributing 22 points as the Celtics delivered a resounding 104-84 victory over the Miami Heat on Saturday night, seizing a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
“We didn't reinvent the wheel,” remarked Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “We simply ramped up our intensity, dictated the physicality, and controlled the tempo of the game. It's about executing the basics under pressure and adversity, and our guys executed brilliantly tonight.”
Game 4 awaits on Monday in Miami, a city where the Celtics have thrived, boasting a 9-2 record in their last 11 outings and a remarkable 6-1 record in their last seven playoff games.
Tatum, notching 10 rebounds and six assists, fueled the Celtics' wire-to-wire dominance in Game 3, reclaiming the home-court advantage surrendered during Miami's Game 2 triumph in Boston. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 18 points, while Derrick White chipped in with 16 for the Celtics.
The defensive prowess displayed by Boston mirrored echoes of their past triumphs, reminiscent of their 93-80 victory over Miami in Game 5 of the 2022 Eastern Conference finals. Since then, Miami hadn't scored below 84 points in any game, and the Celtics hadn't conceded less than 84 points either.
“Our strength lies in our defensive solidity,” asserted Tatum.
Bam Adebayo led the charge for the eighth-seeded Heat with 20 points, albeit missing key starters Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier due to injuries. Nikola Jovic and Tyler Herro added 15 points each, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. contributing 12.
“They disrupted our rhythm and execution,” acknowledged Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “Their physicality was evident, dictating play on both ends of the court.”
Boston's ability to bounce back has been a hallmark of their season, boasting a 15-4 record immediately following a loss, with an average victory margin of 12.2 points.
“It's all about mindset,” Brown emphasized. “We emphasized defense, aiming to disrupt their flow, and it paid dividends.”
From the onset, Boston controlled proceedings, never trailing in Game 1 or Game 3. A 21-12 lead after the first quarter set the tone for a relentless defensive display.
Despite a brief surge from Miami in the second quarter, highlighted by Herro's missed 3-pointer, the Celtics remained undeterred, outscoring the Heat 20-8 to establish a commanding 61-36 halftime lead.
The dominance extended into the second half, with Boston maintaining a comfortable lead never threatened by Miami's attempts at a comeback.
“Right from the start, they imposed themselves,” lamented Jovic. “That shouldn't happen.”
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